Manager of Development Events

Ravinia Festival Association•Highland Park, IL

1h•$50,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ravinia is seeking a Manager of Development Events to join its Development Department. The role leads end-to-end planning, tournament logistics, vendor contracts, and execution for the annual Magic of Music Golf Benefit. It also oversees operational execution, food and beverage logistics, and donor benefit standardization across roughly ten annual development events. The position reports to the Director of Auxiliary Board Operations and supports donor retention and stewardship across the organization. The Manager oversees the golf benefit, including tournament logistics, on-course activations, auctions, student performances, committee and trustee liaison, sponsor relationships, benefit fulfillment, hospitality, and donor stewardship. For the wider portfolio of development events—including dinners, receptions, season previews, and board meetings—the role coordinates operations, catering, guest experience, event timelines, vendors, budgets, ticketing, parking, and event documentation. This is a full-time position based in Highland Park, Illinois. On-site presence is required for event execution, including evenings, weekends, and peak summer festival hours as dictated by the schedule. In-office or remote arrangements are determined by department needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or equivalent practical experience.
Three to five years of experience in professional event management, nonprofit fundraising events, or hospitality coordination.
Proven track record managing large-scale events, donor receptions, or corporate golf outings.
Strong organizational, project management, and vendor communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and event deadlines concurrently under strict timelines.
Proficiency with event management systems or databases such as Monday.com, Infor, or AudienceView, and with Google Suite.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a customer-service orientation toward donors, trustees, and internal stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a performing arts, cultural nonprofit, or higher education setting.
Familiarity with donor stewardship strategies and fundraising benefit structures.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end planning and tournament logistics for the annual Magic of Music Golf Benefit, including on-course contest activations, silent and live auctions, and student performance integration.
Serve as the primary staff liaison to Trustee co-chairs and the Golf Outing Committee.
Build relationships with golf outing sponsors and contributors; oversee benefit fulfillment, premium on-site hospitality, and donor stewardship.
Direct operational execution, food and beverage logistics, and guest experience standards for roughly ten annual development events, including dinners, receptions, season preview sessions, and board meetings.
Coordinate with catering teams on menu selections, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), and details such as linens, florals, and bar setups.
Manage event timelines, including preliminary venue holds, final headcounts, dietary restrictions, catering plans, and seating charts.
Coordinate vendor contracts and BEO administration in alignment with rates negotiated by the Director.
Track event expenses, review line items, and monitor budgets to ensure adherence to financial parameters.
Participate in annual event-scheduling table reads and submit summer event details into internal management systems before deadlines.
Coordinate VIP donor ticketing workflows and preferred parking access with ticketing teams during peak event periods.
Maintain event documentation, including runs of show, guest lists, and financial logs, in shared department repositories.
Perform other duties as assigned.